Toray Advanced Composites has expanded its thermoplastic composite material capabilities for high-performance applications with the introduction of a next-generation high-heat laminate press at its Nijverdal, Netherlands, facility.

This move advances the supply of Toray Cetex reinforced thermoplastic composite laminates for high-temperature performance applications across resin systems, including engineering plastics PEEK, PEKK, and LMPAEK. The press can consolidate composites at temperatures up to 400°C. Laminates are available with woven fabric, uni-directional, and hybrid reinforcement configurations.

Laminates made using the high-temperature press are 50% larger than existing laminates in this performance category, bringing what Toray Advanced Composites describes as a unique capability to the composites market. The increased size broadens the adoption of high-performance thermoplastic composite materials to include larger part geometries across both aerospace and industrial applications.

Toray Cetex laminates are fully consolidated in the press, eliminating the need for secondary layup and consolidation stages, enabling efficient and cost-effective high-volume fabrication of high-performance thermoplastic composite parts. Toray Cetex reinforced thermoplastic laminates, also known in the industry as organo sheets, undergo rigorous quality inspection to ensure near-zero voids.

As with existing Toray Cetex reinforced thermoplastic laminates, ply orientation, thickness, and reinforcement can be customized to end-user specifications. Additional functionality, such as anti-galvanic corrosion and lightning-strike protection, can also be integrated into the laminate at the point of consolidation, providing further processing and performance benefits.